What do you find to be the most important aspect of running a family owned business? How can families best implement this?

In the book, you talk about forgiveness as intervention. What do you mean by this?

How can family run businesses best prepare for succession planning? What if the children don’t want the business?

You talk about the “last challenge of entrepreneurship” — what is this? what’s your advice for the generation stepping away right now?

When Thomas M. Hubler began his family business consulting practice in 1980, he was one of the few professionals addressing family-owned businesses in the United States. Hubler has over 35 years of experience of working with families. While a good portion of that experience has been in working with business families, at the same time he is noted for his ability for peacemaking within families.

In his early career, he was a marriage and family therapist and, after receiving a Bush Fellowship in 1977, he pioneered the concept of succession planning in family owned businesses.

Since that time, Hubler has played a major role in shaping this field, from helping colleges and universities establish family business institutes to his work with countless families and their business enterprises. As the acknowledged “dean” of family business consulting, Hubler continues to shape this important field, helping families strengthen connections and eliminate barriers to healthy, productive family and business relationships.

Has Hubler made a difference? Don Hermes, President of Hermes Floral, a successful third-generation family-owned business and early Hubler client says: “He helped us unravel the family issues, setting the foundation for us to be successful today.”

Today, the Hubler firm continues its long-standing dedication to helping families of wealth and family-owned businesses succeed. The firm helps families develop a shared vision for the family and for the business; identify individual talents; tackle any unspoken issues; and create individual and organizational strategies to ensure a personally and financially rewarding business. In addition, the firm assists families of wealth with the creation of a wealth preparation plan that ensures family values continue to emphasize a family culture of gratitude, philanthropy and living purposeful lives.

Hubler is a founding member of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in Boston, a professional organization serving the needs of family-owned businesses. He is a Fellow in FFI, an honor bestowed on only a very few members. In addition, he served as a professional in residence at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and served on the advisory board for the Center for Family Enterprise for 10 years. Hubler is a former adjunct instructor at the University of St. Thomas, where he co-taught a class on Family Business Management for over 10 years. He is a certified leadership and career coach from the Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara, California. Hubler serves as a board member for Catholic Charities, and since 2000 has served as a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem for Ramsey County. Hubler is a former board member of YouthCARE, a Twin Cities based nonprofit organization with a successful 30 year history of directing leadership development, multi-cultural, and educational programs and services for urban youth, 7-18 years old and previously served as a board member for Listening House, a drop-in center that serves homeless individuals in Saint Paul. Hubler is also a former president and board member of Mental Health Resources, a nonprofit, community-based organization that exists to optimize the capability of people with serious mental illness to live a full life, an organization he served for 16 years, and former board member for The College of Visual Arts (CVA) located in Saint Paul.

Hubler is a widely quoted expert on family business issues. He served for 25 years as a member of the editorial board of the Family Business Review. He has authored articles on success strategies for family-owned businesses and has been widely quoted in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Corporate Report, Nation’s Business, Inc. and StarTribune. In August 2001 and April 2005, Hubler appeared on the NBC Weekend Today Show, commenting on family business issues, and is a periodic participant on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning and Midday programs. Hubler has an on-line column that appears in the Elite Advisor Forum and previously had a column that ran for six years in MinnesotaBusiness Magazine. Hubler is the founder of the Minnesota Family Business of the Year Award, now in its tenth year of celebrating outstanding Minnesota family businesses.

Hubler has developed many of his theories on family businesses and families of wealth while studying systems and organizational development as a Bush Leadership Fellow, and has taught at various universities. Today, he lectures internationally on topics of interest to family businesses and families of wealth including:

Succeeding at Succession

The Power, Magic and Mystery of a Common Vision

Passion, Power and Purpose: Leadership and Career Planning for the Family Business

Understanding Legacy: Your Gift to the Future

Communication and Forgiveness: An Integral Force for Family Businesses

Pathways to Perpetuate Wealth and Family Heritage: Your Legacy for the Future

In his time off, Hubler tends bees, harvesting honey for family, friends and clients. His “Three Acre Wood” honey is noted for its mellow flavor and vibrant color.